Every team's predicted line-up
Friday, June 24, 2016
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How are the 16 remaining teams shaping up ahead of the UEFA EURO 2016 knockouts? UEFA.com's correspondents predict each starting line-up. Fantasy Football managers, take note.
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Belgium: Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel; Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.
Having been out-played by Italy on matchday one, the 4-2-3-1 formation has delivered the goods in the last two matches. Radja Nainggolan proved his worth with the decisive goal against Sweden.
Croatia: Subašić; Srna, Ćorluka, Vida, Strinić; Modrić, Badelj, Brozović, Rakitić, Perišić; Mandžukić.
This is the line-up Ante Čačić used for the first two matches, but then with five new players Croatia defeated Spain. It's impossible to predict his next move, but I think he will stick to this side.
England: Hart; Walker, Cahill, Smalling, Rose; Dier, Lallana, Alli, Rooney; Kane, Sturridge.
After the six changes against Slovakia, the two first-choice full-backs will come back in along with skipper Rooney. It remains to be seen which formation Hodgson will choose – I would suggest at this stage that we'll see a midfield diamond with two up front.
France: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Évra; Pogba, Kanté, Matuidi; Griezmann, Giroud, Payet.
Didier Deschamps is set to revert to the starting XI which began the tournament against Romania. There will be recalls for N'Golo Kanté, Blaise Matuidi, Olivier Giroud and Dimitri Payet after they were rested against Switzerland.
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng (Höwedes), Hummels, Hector; Kroos, Khedira (Schweinsteiger); Müller, Özil, Götze; Gomez.
As both Joshua Kimmich and Mario Gomez excelled against Northern Ireland, and Joachim Löw has made it very clear that he expects Slovakia to play a similar game, Kimmich as attacking right-back and Gomez are very likely to retain their places. Jérôme Boateng (calf) is a doubt; Sami Khedira could make way for Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Hungary: Király; Kádár, Guzmics, Juhász, Lang; Nagy, Gera; Lovrencsics, Kleinheisler, Dzsudzsák, Szalai.
Bernd Storck will no doubt stick with tried and trusted personnel in most positions. With Attila Fiola still injured, Ádám Lang will continue to deputise at right-back with Roland Juhász in the centre. Gergő Lovrencsics's energetic display against Portugal could be rewarded with a place in the starting line-up.
Iceland: Halldórsson; Skúlason, R Sigurdsson, Árnason, Sævarsson; Gudmundsson, G Sigurdsson, Gunnarsson, Bjarnason; Sigthórsson, Bödvarsson.
Joint coaches Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson have used the same starting line-up in all three games so far. The players that have come on from the bench have shown that there is some depth there, but don't expect changes against England. If everyone is fit the line-up will stay the same. Why not? They've been playing superbly so far.
Italy: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Parolo, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Florenzi, Pellè, Éder.
After experimenting in the final group game, Antonio Conte is a bit clearer about his first-choice XI now, and it is largely the one which beat Belgium 2-0 with Alessandro Florenzi replacing Matteo Darmian. Lorenzo Insigne put in a lively display against Ireland, but does not quite fit into Conte's tactical philosophy and will probably remain a sub to come on when the coach needs to shake things up.
Northern Ireland: McGovern; Hughes, Cathcart, McAuley, J Evans; McLaughlin, Norwood, C Evans, Davis, Dallas; Ward, Washington.
Michael O'Neill picked this team two games in a row, which, for him, is a settled selection. It is a team full of legs, ideal for the pressing, harrying game that suits Northern Ireland. Other options include Kyle Lafferty starting again and Chris Baird resuming his anchor role.
Poland: Fabiański; Piszczek, Glik, Pazdan, Jędrzejczyk; Błaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Zieliński, Grosicki; Milik, Lewandowski.
Adam Nawałka will stick to his favoured line-up. Łukasz Piszczek, Krzysztof Mączyński and Jakub Błaszczykowski, who started on the bench against Ukraine, will all return to the starting XI. Due to Wojciech Szczęsny's thigh injury, Łukasz Fabiański will keep his place in goal.
Portugal: Rui Patrício; Vierinha, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Raphäel Guerreiro; André Gomes, William Carvalho, João Moutinho, João Mário; Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Renato Sanches continues to impress from the bench and is pushing for a starting berth in place of João Moutinho, while Ricardo Quaresma is also an option in one of the wide midfield positions.
Republic of Ireland: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, O'Shea, Ward; Whelan, McCarthy, Hendrick, Brady; Hoolahan; Long.
Martin O'Neill is notoriously tricky to read when it comes to predicting his line-up, with the coach even rumoured to keep his players in the dark as to who makes the starting cut until as late as possible. Only Darren Randolph, Seamus Coleman, Robbie Brady and Shane Long can be considered certain starters.
Slovakia: Kozáčik; Pekarík, Škrtel, Ďurica, Hubočan; Kucka, Pečovský, Mak (Ďuriš), Hamšík, Weiss; Duda.
Slovakia played with the same side in their last two Group B games and Ján Kozák will hope to use the same 11 names against world champions Germany. However, winger Róbert Mak is a doubt due to his hamstring problem, although defenders Tomáš Hubočan and Peter Pekarík (nose) are both likely to play.
Spain: De Gea; Juanfran/Bellerín, Piqué, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Thiago/Fàbregas, Silva, Nolito, Morata.
Vicente Del Bosque has a dilemma in that his team were out-run and out-paced against Croatia but have had a long recovery time. His trademark thought process is to stick with his 'gala' XI as much as possible and it will be a shock if his team differs greatly.
Switzerland: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Shär, Djourou, Rodríguez; Behrami, Xhaka, Džemaili; Shaqiri, Embolo, Mehmedi.
It remains to be seen whether head coach Vladimir Petković will keep faith with teenage striker Breel Embolo or recall Haris Seferović, who was dropped to the bench for the goalless draw with France.
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies, Taylor; Ramsey, Ledley, Allen; Bale, Robson-Kanu.
Hal Robson-Kanu scored the winner against Slovakia in the opening match after coming off the bench, while Sam Vokes was entrusted with the target man role against Russia. Expect further changes, with Robson-Kanu a possible starter against Northern Ireland.